Staff Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) and Sgt. Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum) return to Texas after tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. They’re ready to begin their lives anew when King is “stop-lossed.” Not only will the decorated soldier not be getting out, he’s to be redeployed to Iraq. With the help of lifelong friend Michele (Abbie Cornish) — Steve’s fiancee — King goes AWOL. Despite occasional lapses into unneeded melodrama, the film is a well-acted excursion into the challenges of coming home. Ciarán Hinds and Linda Emond provide a sturdy foundation as King’s parents. R. 1 hour, 52 minutes. Released today.

“Vantage Point”

Fear not the eight viewpoints of an act of terror “Vantage Point” delivers. This involving thriller — anchored by Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, William Hurt and Sigourney Weaver — doesn’t resort to hand-held subjective angles. But it does return to the scene of the crime again and again, uncovering with heated pacing who’s responsible for an attack on the president’s double (Hurt) during a historic announcement on the “war on terror,” in Spain. Screenwriter Barry L. Levy and director Pete Travis (the latter made a TV film about an IRA bombing) pepper this action foray with thorny ideas about U.S. arrogance and ideals. PG-13. 1 hour, 30 minutes. Released July 1.